March 4366 - Despite religious unrest continuing to lead to upheaval and violence in the far south, Vanuku's government has pushed on determinedly with its long-term military strategy to secure the nation's place as a pre-eminent global power.

The latest of those initiatives has just borne fruit with the launch of a new flagship for its powerful navy. The VS Mrjkai (Luthorian: Protector) is a Támnr-class nuclear-powered super carrier, which features the state-of-the-art ST-21 multi-purpose jet fighter among its air group.

The carrier was commissioned in August 4060 at a cost of 10 Billion VAN. The project has overrun by around six months and is believed to have cost at least another 500 million VAN to complete due mainly to problems with the VTOL technology employed by the carrier air groups fighter wings. Nevertheless, the new carrier has now taken its place at the head of the navy's famous 1st Fleet. It brings to four the number of Támnr-class super carriers the navy now has at its disposal.

Minister of Defence Ulugbék Srnkzi said: "This is a proud day for the republic. This ship has been six years in the making and the planning and political will to bring it to fruition took much longer than that. However, we have a new flagship that is the envy of Terra and will enable Vanuku to provide naval projection and security to all four corners of the world, when and where needed."

It is believed with large naval and army commissions now completed, the MoD will concentrate its next efforts on the airforce with rumours that a joint project with Majatran super power Istalia in the offing."In Other News... A New Era of Co-operation with Dorvik?

Long-serving Foreign Minister Gus De Smet has said he predicts a new era of co-operation with Dorvik following a change in political direction in the Artanian nation.

Vanuku has been at odds with Dorvik for more than a decade, over what the foreign minister described as Dorvik's imperialistic approach to global policing, leading to exchanges in the World Congress and a cooling of relations.

However, following the formation of a new federal republic in Dorvik and pledges by the government and other parties to move in a different direction, Vanuku's leaders believe there is room to work together.

Mr De Smet, who is now in his fourth term as Vanukean Foreign Minister, said: "We are very optimistic about options for future co-operation and I have personally been in touch with Chancellor Hoffmann and her team to express our support for her administration. Whilst there is a crucial role for maintaining Terran security through the legitimate and lawful institutions of the World Congress, we felt the last Dorvish regime was pushing an agenda that overstepped that mark and had adopted an overbearing, somewhat imperialist approach to their duties."

On the morning of June 29th, 4366, several bombs in the downtown area of Prinsenaard were detonated, injuring 132 and killing 17.The police discovered that the event set up and organized by a radical Orderist militia called the "Ex Victoria".After the bombings, three committed suicide in the bombing, and four more were killed by police.

- Cars destroyed in explosions.

Only two were successfully detained. They were identified as Heijkai "Hzíakai" Slejman and Nasir Kezkai.Slejman, admitted that the attacks were religiously and politically motivated. Saying "An Orderist State is the goal, and all of us want to create it. But society today is too afraid to stand for these ideals, so we took that stand. You call it terrorism, we call it patriotism!"

Government Responds to Deadly Terror AttackDe Smet Says Vanukeans Will Stand Side By Side to Fight Murderous Radicals

Two Brigades of the Military Constabulary Corps are set to be deployed to trouble hotspots in the south of Vanuku.

September 4366 - Foreign Minister Gus De Smet has called for a calm, measured response to the terrorist atrocities in Vanuku.

He said that if anyone had been uncertain as to what the Orderist fundamentalists stood for before the fatal bombing in Prinsenaard there was no doubt about their murderous agenda now.

De Smet said: "Our thoughts, our prayers and out deepest sympathies go out to the families of the innocent people who were murdered in these acts of barbarism. It is clear there is a concerted attempt to destabilise our society.

"It will not work, not now and not ever. Any attempt to divide Vanukeans in this way will always fail because it instead unites us behind a common cause. We stand shoulder to shoulder and defiantly oppose this murderous organisation and its sinister modus operandi."

Mr De Smet revealed that a series of measures were set to be passed by the Grand Council in order to clamp down on further violence and instability caused by the Orderist radicals.

They include the deployment of two brigades of the Military Constabulary of Vanuku (Taghereklemkai Krpz) to quell further insurrection in southern border hotspots and the provision of 100 million VAN in annual funding to expand the activities of counter-terrorism agencies to protect against further attacks in the short and long term.

A proposal has also been put forward to seize all assets of the Maksisuma Corporation in Vanuku. The Zardic defence business has links to the Orderist movement and is believed to have funded the supply of arms to militants associated with the movement.

Mr De Smet also revealed he had held talks with his counterpart in Zardugal and had passed on files to the Zardic national security agencies as part of a co-operative approach to dealing with the terrorists.

He added: "We stand toe to toe with our allies and fight this disease wherever it may spread. Vanuku is, and always will be, at the epicentre of peace, strength and stability both on Majatra and around Terra as a whole."

Former King opens foundation for terror victims, Crown Prince attacks RepublicElderly Juhn IX 'worried' about state of Vanukean society, pledges to help 'all victims'.

The skyline of New Verham, the capital of the Republic of New Verham, a nation known for widespread poverty but with a rich financial centre.

September 4366 - During the years of their exile the royal family have never spoken about affairs within the successor state of the Kingdom of Vanuku. Yet after the gruesome terror attack the exiled King reacted shocked and worried, showing genuine distraught at the bloodbath and religious tension. The last month King Juhn IX has worked on establishing a foundation for victims of this terrorist group, pumping substantial amounts of his personal wealth into the organization. The royals have been living comfortably in the capital of the Republic of New Verham, where companies on the name of the royal family are well rooted in the financial and real estate markets. New Verham has often functioned as a place of exile for the Vanukean royals and more often than not the Banmek-Sntazed's have repaid this hospitality with large charity projects, giving them a reputation as staunch philantropists. King Juhn, who is now 85, has already given a lot to the people of New Verham but he can not seem to split with his native nation. A spokesperson of the royal family in New Verham stated that "the King is worried, the King is saddened and most of all the King fears the future of Vanuku". The Temrkai Foundation, named after the uncle of King Juhn, has been set up to financially support all victims of the terror attack. This will be able to help them with counselling, surgery costs, taking days off work without having to worry about finances and any other things that might cost money. When asked the King expressed no interest in returning to Vanuku, stating that at this point he is far too old and that he is greatly enjoying the tropical climate and hospitality of New Verham.

However the Crown Prince Wrntukai, who took over this title when his elder brother Juhn passed away in a traffic accident six years ago, is a 45 year old businessman with a far more militant mindset. He believes that the religious squabbles are the fault of the republican state that Vanuku has become. In an exclusive interview the Crown Prince attacked the Republic and the perceived incompetence of the government. "I spent my entire adult life in Vanuku, I served in the military, I studied, I worked in the financial sector and I did countless of charity work and volunteer work as part of my royal duties to the people of Vanuku. I saw some of the poorer neighbourhoods in big cities like Wiel and Prinsenaard, cities where Ahmadi's and Hosians of different sorts live together in large flats. It's not ideal and there are cultural differences, as there have been for thousands of years, yet violence was so rare. I mean, half of the population is split between Ahmadism and Hosianism and the last religious war was over a thousand years ago. There was peace and balance during the days of the Kingdom. Now there's a few hundred, a thousand at most, religious radicals from Zardugal that were for some reason let in the nation while it was known they'd pose an immense threat to the stability of the nation and look what you got: a bloodbath. And how does the government respond? Send in more guns. It's idiotic, the Republic of Vanuku is a failed state. It lacks stability, it lacks coherence, it lacks competence. My father won't return to Vanuku, but I will. For now I have taken over as the patriarch of the house of Banmek-Sntazed, the Greater Nationalist Party will rise again, all endorsements by our family for any other party are rescinded."

It is rumoured that within the next year the Crown Prince will return to Vanuku and work on restoring the Greater Nationalist Party, a political entity so deeply ingrained in Vanukean society that many expect old members to flock back to the ranks fairly quick. For now the Crown Prince is consolidating a few last investments in New Verham and making sure that all the paper work for the companies owned by the royal family in Vanuku are also correct and valid.

Crown Prince Attacked For 'Shocking' Comments In Light of Bombing Deaths'Out-of-touch' Wrntukai branded crass and amoral for turning terrorist attack into political point scoring opportunity

The crown prince's comments following the terror attack have led to stay-away monarchy protests through the streets of Prinsenaard.

October 4366 - The leader of the Republican Party has lambasted the former crown prince for trying to make political mileage out of a terrorist atrocity. Prince Wrntukai son of Vanuku's last King, Juhn IX, and now patriarch of the noble house Banmek-Sntazed, angrily attacked the republican government, blaming them for the bombing in Prinsenaard and called his one-time homeland a 'failed state'.

However, the outburst has left senior politicians shaking their heads in disbelief and wondering how the "crass" crown prince hopes to take advantage of a situation that has seen 17 killed and 132 injured - many maimed for life.

Nees Maes, who leads the Republican Party in the Grand Council, said: "It is disgusting, distasteful and downright ignorant. While all political parties in our country, whatever their ideologies, show solidarity and whilst the international community has pledged to help and has rallied around to offer support, this crass idiot - and I mean idiot - sees it as a way to try and lever some advantage.

"To try and score political points and launch a return-to-politics campaign on the back of a terror attack is, truly, a most shocking and unsavoury act. His father was a staunch autocrat, it is true, but this out of touch aristocrat is some kind of amoral monster who is attempting to prey on fear."

"The claims he makes about the spread and radicalisation of Orderism and how that movement entered our country are simply not true and show how out of touch he has become when it comes to Vanukean affairs.

"However there is a very serious side to this: the ridiculous comments by the prince will only encourage the misguided terrorists and lead them to believe they have support for their agenda of death and destruction.

"I will assure them they don't - because Wrntukai and his family are an irrelevance in Vanuku and all they have left is the ability to hand out petty insults from half way around the world."

Dawn Raids Lead to Round Up and Deportation of Illegal Alien OrderistsPolice Swoop on Secret Places of Worship Following Intelligence Breakthrough

Masked elite force commandos stand guard at a 'secret' Orderist place of worship following an early morning raid.

April 4367 - Around 1,000 Orderists of foreign nationality have been expelled from Vanuku as the government continues to clamp down on radicals following the terrorist atrocities that rocked the nation.

A series of dawn raids by elite forces were carried out at addresses - some believed to be secret places of worship - in southern Skalkarak and Mkldreknek leading to a significant number of arrests.

Foreign Minister Gus De Smet confirmed that the raids had been carried out following a major intelligence breakthrough and that the foreigners were now being repatriated and handed over to the appropriate authorities. Under current laws, no foreign national may reside permanently in Vanuku leading to an understanding that those arrested were using false identities and papers to remain illegally in the country.

It follows reports that 200 Orderist leaders had been expelled from neighbouring Jelbania where thousands more followers of the cult have been rounded up in "internment camps". Jelbania has also put pressure on Zardugal - where the cult originated - to "put their house in order" and eliminate the threat.

Mr Smet was also asked to respond to the Kazulian Foreign Secretary's recent comments which criticised Vanuku for using the Orderist dilemma as an excuse to tighten up its own religious laws and infringe fundamental rights.

De Smet said: "I will not be issuing official diplomatic statements to another nation via the media. I'll leave that kind of posturing to the amateurs. We will be addressing the matter with Kazulia through the appropriate channels. As it stands we are committed to a treaty of friendship and economic co-operaton with Kazulia which is worth many hundreds of millions in trade to our two nations."

In other News... The government of Vanuku has passed on its deepest condolences to the family of Manil, Khagan of Jelbania, who has died of a suspected heart attack aged 60. The statement also said that Vanuku was looking forward to working in the same vein of co-operation with his brother and successor as head of state, Prince Jebr.

Ever since the Grand Council passed the a treaty that would suppress Orderist beliefs, the numerous rebellions have occurred throughout the southern parts of the nation. These rebellions evenually culminated in Orderists rebel groups taking control of the city of Achterzeven in the state of Machkeulen on February 26st, 4369.

Orderist rebels in Schalkaren.

On March 5th, a gathering of Orderist militias was held in Achterzeven. In a video released by the militias at the meeting, the Orderists declared there independence from the nation of Vanuku, claiming to be a part of a new nation: the South Vanuku Orderist State (Snta Wrnuke Brtsvokai Knstat). The new separatist state is currently pushing against the Vanukean military, making several gains in the state of Schalkaren.

It took a short time for the Vanukean military to reclaim Achterzeven and knock out nearly all the rebelling groups in the region. "The Orderist extremism in Vanuku is going to its grave", the Highest Servant Káheheijkai Hdrinsrmko Kwkh-Ílja stated, declaring that "any further acts of Orderist terrorism are never going to happen in our country". On this occasion, the Government decided to increase patrols throughout Vanuku, make the curfew orders stricter and strengthen the southern border control in order to "ensure the safety of Vanukean citizens". The controversial religious laws, which were a spark to the recent violent events, remain unchanged.

Vanukean diplomacy has also expressed concerns about the victory of Ezoko Xenakis in the presidential elections of neighbouring Zardugal, stating that an Orderist fundamentalist in this office is "a huge disgrace'. However, they applauded the formation of an anti-SPR centrist Zardic Cabinet.

VANUKEAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY BACKS DANKUKSupport has been expressed by President Kutsalwrntukai

Making a consequential step in the recently taken direction, the Government of Vanuku has announced that it officialy supports Dankuk in the war with Kazulia. "We knew it would come to this", Kutsalwrntukai said, "It was obvious that Kazulia would attack sooner or later. Let's hope that the international community will not trust the so called reasons that Kazulia mentions when explaining their behaviour, as their words are full of lies".

While some months ago the President suggested locating WMDs in Dranian bases, it has not been confirmed that such a move had happened - indeed, it's been at odds with the statement of the MoFA, which claimed that "Vanuku has not been an advocate for a spread of nuclear weapons and we are not going to be".

It is also not known if the expressed support for Dankuk will come with declaring an actual war with Kazulia.